New S-SBR Plant in Singapore by Sumitomo Chem

Japan's Sumitomo Chemical is planning to build a 40,000 tonne/year solution styrene butadiene rubber (S-SBR) plant in Jurong Island, Singapore, a well-known feedstock for the tyre industry.

The plant which will comissioned in 2013 has a capex of $120 million which is timely due to the strength of the yen currency. The plant will not replace Sumitomo's existing 10,000 tonne/year S-SBR plant in Ichihara, Chiba, Japan which is catering for the captive Japanese market.

Higher Plastic Usage in Cars to Increase Demand of Plastics

The global car industry sees jump in cars demand as rising economies in China and rest of Asia sees increase in middle class population. China has already surpassed Japan for largest automotive producer and close to overtaking US as the largest automotive market.

Engineering polymers which widely used in the cars production is expected to increase from 18% to 25% per car as the auto sector scouting for means for weight savings to enhance fuel efficiency and costs.

Bayer MaterialScience Investing €110m in China

Bayer MaterialScience is planning to expand in invest in Shanghai, Qingdao and Chongqing with investment totalling €110m ($149m). They have announced five facilities for polyurethanes and polycarbonate without any mentioning on capacities of each.

Cangzhou Petrochemical Starting Up Debottlenecked MTBE Plant

Cangzhou Petrochemical Co is operating its methyl tertiary butyl ether (MTBE) plant. The MTBE unit capacity has been increased recently to 50,000 tonnes/year from 20,000 tonnes/year in November. All of the capacity of the MTBE unit is used for captive consumption in gasoline blending.

Malaysia Stock Market Boost with Oil Companies Participation

Malaysian stock market, KLSE or locally known as Bursa Malaysia is getting a boost after the Malaysian's national oil and gas participation in listing of its subsidiaries and companies on the stock exchange. PETRONAS who will have six of its units listed on the Bursa Malaysia will be controlling 10% of the Malaysian stock market based on value.

It's latest listing is an IPO for its petrochemical group, Petronas Chemical Group (PCG). The listing of Petronas companies is seen as politically driven after announcement from Petronas Prime Minister, Najib Tun Razak for more private sector participation.

LyondellBasell New Management Lineup

LyondellBasell, a joint-ventured petrochemical company as a product from the hard hit of global recession has announced that new management line-up for its Olefins & Polyolefins unit. Bhavesh V. (Bob) Patel has been named senior vice president who will succeed Anton de Vries.

The announcement was welcomed by LyondellBasell CEO Jim Gallogly.

LAB plant expansion to be constructed by Foster Wheeler in Jubail

Foster Wheeler has been awarded for the expansion in Al-Jubail, Saudi Arabia for a new Linear Alkyl Benzene (LAB). The award was given by Gulf Farabi for completion by 2011 for the new 100,000 tonnes per annum of LAB.